Adding-machine.



W. J.-BROWN.

ADDING MACHIIIE.

APYLIGATION FILED JULY 12,1912

1,094,300; Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

avwcmtoz W J BROWN.

WILLIAM 3'. BROWN, 0]? ANITA, IOWA.

ADDING-BIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21., 1914.

Application filed July 12,}913. Serial No. 778,695.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM J. BROWN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Anita, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adding-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful impaovements in adding machines and has for its primary object to pr0- vide an adding machine of this character in which is provided a plurality of numbered wheels upon a main shaft and means for imp'artingstep by step rotation of each wheel upon rotation of the adjacentwheel.

Another object is'to provide an adding machine of this character with numberedwheelsof'improved construction and novel means between the wheels for rotating each wheel one step or number upon one-third of a revolution of the wheel before or ahead of the same.

Another object is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of adding machines of this character and provide the same with a plurality of mink bered wheels with separate means for operating'each wheel, whereby said wheels may be arranged in such manner that the opera tor may employ any number of his or her fingers when operating the machine.

WVith the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my complete machine; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section,

' partly in elevation, of the operative parts of my machine removed from the casing;

Fig, 4' is an elevational view ofone of the numbered wheels removed, showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2, said view also showing the starywheel engaged with this side. of thewall and the manner in which, said star wheel is mounted upon the stationary main casing; Fig. 5 is an enlarged-fragmentary sectional view on the ine 55 of Fig. 1,; looking in the direcings in which similar reference characters signate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates the main axle upon which are loosely mounted the numbered wheels 2. Each wheel 2 has three sets of numbers 3, from 0 to 9, inclusive, arranged upon the left edge of its periphery. Projecting radially from. the right edge of the periphery of each wheel 2 are a plurality of plates 4t, preferably thirty in number, the plates being offset from the numbers. The purpose of arranging the numbers and plates in this manner will presently appear.

It will be raider-stood that the web or main portion 5 of the wheel connecting the hub 6 and rim thereof, is preferably in the form of a disk, thereby allowing the rim 7 to extend beyond the opposite sides of the main, disk portion 5 of the wheel. An inwardly directed circular flange 8 is formed at the right edge of the rim 7 and provided in its free inner edge with the notches9 corresponding in number to the number of numerals upon the periphery or outer face of the rim Y and arranged opposite the same.

A plurality of teeth 10, preferably three in Referring more specifically to the dawnumber, are directed inwardly toward the hub 6 from the left edge of the rim 7. The teeth 10 are preferably of substantially triangular form and the purpose of said teeth, as well as the purpose of the flang'eB with the notches 9 formed therein, will presently appear.

Mounted upon the main axle 1, between the hubs G of the wheels 2 and serving to separate and hold the same in proper spaced relation, are the upper ends of the bracket arms 11. The bracket arms are arranged in pairs between the wheels and are preferably keyed to the main shaft 1, as showii at 12. The bracket arms ll extend downwardly and are provided in their lower portions with the longitudinal grooves '13 within the lower end of which are mounted the shaft bearings 14. The opposite ends of a short shaft 15 are mounted in the shaft bearings carried by each pair ofbracket arms lland has the star wheels 16 and 17 rigidly mounted thereon between the bearings 14. Each star and the points of the Wheel 16' are normally directed vertically and horizontally, while the points of the wheel 17 are between the points of the wheel 16. It will be understood that the short shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in the bearings 14 while said bearings have only a vertical movement in the slots 13 and are resiliently retained at the lower ends of said slots by means of the springs 18 having their lower ends engaged against the bearings 14 while the upper ends are engaged against the upper walls of the slots 13. It will also be understood that the opposite ends of the main shaft .1 are held stationary in the opposite ends of the easing 19.

The casing 19 may be of any form desired but preferably has a flat base portion and a rounded upper portion. in the front portion of which are located the parallel upwardly directed elongated slots 20 through which project the plates 4 of the wheels 2 to be engaged by the operators finger to rotate said wheels, as will be clearly understood. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slotted portion of the casing is pressed inwardly, in order that the plates 1- prophrly project through the slot 20 while the lower wheel of each slot serves as a stop for the operators finger, thereby preventing the wheels 2 from being rotated too far. To the right of each slot 20, may be seen a row of numbers 21. from 1 to 0, beginning with 1 at the bottom, while to the left of each slot is an opening 22 through which may be seen one of the numbers on the wheel, the plates of which are opposite the slot to the right.

i In, operation, the rows of numbers 21 on the casing 19 serve to indicate which plate or plates should be engaged and drawn downwardly. For instance, the figure 3 may be seen on the wheel to the right, through the opening 521 nearest the right end of the machine, and' supposing theoperator Wishes to add four to the sum already indicated by the numbers appearing opposite the openings 22, all that is necessary is for the operator to place a finger at the right hand slot 20, engage the plate opposite the figure 4 in the row 21 to the right of said slot and draw the plate downwardly to the bottom of the slot. This will rotate the right hand wheel four numbers, causing-the, figure T to appear opposite the right hand o 'iening without atl'ectingthe other wheels of the machine. Each wheel is rotated one number, however, upon one-third of a. revolution of the wheel to the right thereof by the mechanism carried in the bracket arms 11, as will now,be clearly set forth. It will he noted that the numbers 0,1, 5, 2,7, 9, 4, and 3, appear in rotation from left to right through the openings 21 on the eight wheels em loyed in the present instance, therefore,

as e figure 9 appears on the wheel numend of the machine. This movement of the fifth wheel from the left end of the-machine caused by the tooth 10, at the lowermost portion ofthe wheel, engaging the lowermost point of the star wheel 16 and causing a onefourth revolution of the same, thereby rotating the shaft 15 and star wheel 17, and likewise causing a one-fourth rotation of said star wheel 17, thereby, compelling one point thereof to engage in one of the notches 9 to rotate the fifth wheel from the left end of the machine, one notch or numher. This operation may be readily understood by referring to the drawings, especially Figs. 2 and 4:. Should the operator desire to add 100% or two or more-even thousands up to 9000, however, it will simply be necessary for the operator to engage the proper plate 4- in the fifth slot from the left end of the machine and draw said plate to the bottom of said slot, thereby rotating the fifth wheel from the end of the machine and also the fourth, if a sufficient number of thousands is added, without, however, changing the position of the sixth, seventh, or eighth wheels from the left end of the machine, owing to the fact that when the toothed star wheels 17 and 16 and their shaft 15 are caused to rotate by the rotation of the fifth wheel, the next tooth of the star wheel 16 would engage the inclined portion of the tooth 10, thereby causing the star wheels 16 and 17 and their shaft 15 to move upwardly against the tension of the springs 18. As soon as the operation is completed, however, the springs 18 will return the shaft 15 and star wheels 16 and 17 to their normal positions.

It is believed that from the foregoing, the construction and operation of my improved adding machine will be clearly apparent and that further description is therefore unnecessary.

i Vhilc I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invent-ion, it will. be understood that minor changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Vvl'iat I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising the combination with whecls having projections formed thereon, and a transfer device resiliently ei'igaged with said projections.

2. A device of the class described comprising the combination with wheels having projections, transfer mechanism resiliently engaged with said projections, the projections of one wheel each having a beveled face, whereby said transfer mechanism may be forced away from the projections when engaged by'the beveled face of said projections.

8. A device of the class described comprising a wheel having projections, a sec ond wheel provided with projections, a shaft, a pair of star wheels engaged with the projections of the first mentioned wheels, the projections of one of the first mentioned wheels being each provided with a beveled face, and means engaged with the shaft. for retaining said shaft and star wheels in 0p erative position, said star wheels and shaft being adapted to be forced into inoperative position when engaged by one of said bew eled faces.

4. A device of the class described comprising a wheel, a second wheel, the first wheel being provided with a plurality of spaced. projections each having a straight edge and a beveled edge, the second wheel being provided with a notched flange, a shaft, a pair of star wheels mounted on the shaft, one of said star wheels being engaged with the notched flange of the second wheel, the other star wheel being adapted to be engaged at times by the projections of the first wheel, and means for resiliently retaining the shaft and star Wheels in operative position, said star wheels and shaft being adapted to be moved to inoperative position upon engagement of the last mentioned star wheel with the beveled edge of said projections. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. BROWN \Viiinesses WV. 1). SMXTH, R. D. VERNON. 

